Foldable chicken-coop.



T. A. MBHRINGER.

FOLDABLE CHICKEN COOP. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1911. 1,031,359. Patented July 2,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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. T. A. MEHRINGER.

FOLDABLE'GHIGKEN COOP.

APPLIOATION IILBD' AUG. 29, 1911.

1,031,359. Patented July2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WM wow COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAI'H CD.,WASH|NGTON. D. c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE A. MEHRINGER, 0F JASPER, INDIANA.

FOLDABLE CHICKEN-COOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE A. MEnnIN- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jasper, in the county of Dubois, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Chicken- Coops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to new and useful improvements in chicken coops and more especially to that type of coop adapted to be folded when not in use whereby it may be packedin a small space out of the way and the object of my invention is to improve the construction and increase the efficiency of coops of the above described character.

A further object of my invention is to provide a foldable coop which will be construct ed entirely of metal and will therefore be extremely durable while at the same time comparatively light. And a still further object of my invention is to provide a coop having a base and having roof members extending from the sides of said base upwardly and inwardly, one of said roof members being adapted to be swung upwardly and outwardly and then slipped downwardly to bear against the inner face of the other roof member, thereby permitting air and light to enter the coop.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of my coop and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the frame of the coop. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the complete coop with a portion of the removable roof broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the movable roof member swung into the coop.

Referrin more specifically to the drawings, in wiich similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, 1 and 2 designate two pieces of angle iron of equal length to which is secured a sheetof metal, preferably galvanized iron 3, the stripsrl and 2 being positioned one at each end of the sheet 3 and with their angles fac- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Serial No. 646,625.

ing outwardly. The free flanges of each of these strips are provided at each end with perforations through which are passed metal rods 4 and 5 which are threaded at their ends to receive nuts 6 by means of: which they are secured in place. A second pair of angle irons 7 and 8 identical with the first are perforated at one end and the rod 4 passes through these perforations as well as through the perforations of the angle lrons 1 and 2, nuts being threaded upon the rod to maintain said latter irons in place. As shown these latter irons are also positioned each with one of its flanges extending outwardly. The lower ends of these angle irons 7 and 8 are also perforated to receive the metal rod 10 which is similar to the rod 5 and which is secured in place by nuts 11.

Pivoted by one end upon the rod 10 are metallic strips 12, preferably formed of the galvanized iron, the free ends of said strips beingslotted as at 13 to engage over the rod 5 and so hold the lower ends of the side members of the frame formed by the angle irons 1 and 2 and the angle irons 7 and 8 in proper spaced position. As previously described the irons 1 and 2 are joined by the sheet metal 3 which forms one side of the roof of the coop. The base of the coop consists of a rectangular shaped piece of sheet metal 14 one edge portion of which is rolled about the rod 5 to form a hinge connection therewith as shown at 15 while the opposite edge portion is curved as at 16 to engage over the rod 10.

Swingingly mounted upon the rod 4 by means of eyes 17 is a rectangular frame 18 covered with netting 19 preferably formed of galvanized wire and as shown this frame coacts with a similar frame 18 hinged by eyes 17 to the rod 10 said latter frame being also covered with netting 19. As will be seen this method of forming the coop'not only gives ready access thereto but also permits air and light to pass therein. I have also provided the coop with a second roof member 20 formed of sheet metal and adapted when in operative position to rest upon the frame 18 and so close the coop and pre vent rain from passing therein. This roof member 20 is mounted in place by means of strips of metal 21 secured one upon each of its side edges, said strips being each provided with a longitudinally extending slot 22 through which is passed the rod 4 and it will be seen that by raising the lower end of the roof member 20 said member may be swung upwardly and then slipped downwardly within the coop to bear against the inner face of the opposite roof member.

Secured to the free flanges of the angle irons 1 and 2 are hinge members 23 adapted to engage eyes 24 carried by one side of each of the doors 25 whereby a hinged closure for each end of the coop is provided. As the door at each end of the coop is identical with that at the opposite end a description of one will suffice for both. As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the door consists of two equal right triangular shaped pieces of sheet metal 26 and 27 hinged to each other by means of a rod 28 about which is rolled a tongue 29 formed upon one side of the member 26 and similar tongues formed upon a corresponding side of the member 27. The angle irons 7 and 8 are each provided with a latch member 30 by means of which the doors may be readily secured in closed position. As will be apparent from the above description these doors are adapted to be folded upon themselves and then swung inwardly.

In operation the coop is set up in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,

the frame members formed by the angle.

irons l and-2 and the angle irons 7 and 8 being swung into position and secured by means of the brace strips 12, the base or floor being then swung into position and the roof member 20 being drawn up out of the coop and swung down over the frame member 18. In folding the coop the doors are swung inwardly the roof member 20 having been previously slipped within the coop, the floor is swung upwardly to bear against the doors and roof member 20, the braces 12 are released and swung upwardly and the frame members formed by the angle irons are then swung together.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple form of foldable coop which is economical in construction, efficient in operation and at the same time extremely durable, all parts being formed of metal and preferably galvanized or otherwise rendered non-corrodible.

It Wlll of course be understood that minor detail changes may be made without in any way departing from the spirit of my invenadapted for detachably engaging the lower end of the second roof member, double doors hingedly connected to the ends of the first mentioned roof member, said doors each consisting of two members hinged together and adapted to swing inwardly.

2. A foldable chicken coop, comprising a pair of spaced frame members, a roof member secured to said frame members, said frame members being provided at each end wit-h perforations, a second pair of spaced frame members, one end of each of said latter frame members being perforated to receive one of said rods whereby the two pairs of frame members are hingedly connected, the opposite ends of said latter frame members being also perforated to receive a rod, brace members secured pivotally to said latter rod and adapted to detachably engage one of the rods of the first mentioned frame members to maintain the free end of said frame members in spaced position, a floor member hinged to that rod engaged by said brace members and adapted to engage with the rod upon which said brace members are pivoted, a foraminous roof member hinged by its upper end to the rod by which the frame members are pivotally united and adapted to bear by its sides upon the frame, a second foraminous roof member hinged by its lower end to the rod upon which the braces are pivoted and also adapted to bear by its sides upon the frame, and a second roof member swingingly and slidably mounted upon the rod upon which the first foraminous roof member is hinged and adapted in one position to rest over the foraminous roof member and in the other position torest within the coop and against the inner face of the first mentioned roof member.

3. A foldable coop, comprising a pair of roof frame members pivoted to each other by their upper ends and adapted to be posi tioned with their lower ends in spaced position, a floor hingedly connected to the lower end of one of said frame members and adapted to engage the lower end of the other of said frame members, a roof secured to oneof said frame members, a rod connecting the opposite sides of said frame members adjacent their upper ends, strips provided with longitudinally extending slots engaging over said rod, and a second roof member secured by its side edges to said strips.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE A. MEHRINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. A, 

